225 Dollars!

bubba
October 18 2006, 1:50PM

"Are the lives of black gay men disposable?"

I know you can answer that one yourself!

Ramong
October 18 2006, 2:38PM

The thing that makes this so sad is that we as a community let him down. Because of this man millions of gays in this country are no longer considered criminals, because of their conduct in the bedroom. Those laws we used to stop gays from adopting, holding gov't jobs, etc... We as a community let him down.

But the part that pisses me off is Lambda Legal did nothing! They have made millions off this case. They use it in every fundraising push they have, they use it to increase membership, they used it for their own political gain, but didn't have the common respect to write a damn $6,000 dollar check to cover this man...no this gay hero's funeral.

I am never giving them another damn cent!!!

Vince
October 18 2006, 2:50PM

Immediately after reading your first piece, I called Mitchell at the # you listed, hoping to use my charge card since time was short. He directed me to write a check and to send it to the bank address you also listed. With written check and addressed envelope in hand, I returned to your website hoping to share it with my ten-year-old daughter, talk about our donation and the importance of taking care of our own. Unfortunately, upon reading that we were too late, this European American gay father had a very different lesson for his African American daughter: Poverty? Racism? Disfunctional queer organizations that don't copmmunicate? Mega-queer organizations that don't do what's just plain decent? I've belonged to Lambda for years. That a queer legal organization allowed this, speaks volumes. I'll contact them and expect an answer. But beyond that, not only am I grief striken, I'm also ashamed. There's enough blame to go around for all of us. How did we let this happen?

AEleen
October 18 2006, 3:33PM

I am pissed off at Lambda Legal as well. Anyone who is should write to them and tell them so!

DWIGHT POWELL / CLIK
October 18 2006, 3:38PM

WOW Keith, This story really bothered me a great deal. I wish the community had been aware of Tyron's financial status. I am positive that this situation would not have turned in this direction. Only $250 from Lambda Legal? WOW, where are HRC and The Task Force? This is really upsetting news. Is this how we repay our pioneers, those that have fought tirelessly for the advancement and equality of the gay community. Something must be done to save the name, legacy, and dignity of a man that gave countless years of his life to fight an injustice that benefited the entire community.

I understand that NBJC just found out about this yesterday. WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE? Since I don’t expect HRC, The Task Force, Lambda Legal, or any of the other “Human Right’s” organization to take the lead in properly addressing this, I will open a memorial fund in his name at $250 and ask that business/individuals contribute.

DWIGHT POWELL
October 18 2006, 4:20PM

....CONT
Lets save the integrity and dignity of a man that has given so much of himself. I have spoken with Herndon Davis and Alexander Robinson at NBJC and they have agreed to look into the possibility of managing the TYRON GARNER Scholarship fund. Look for more information on this in the next day or two.

It is my hope and desire to assist in raising funds in his name and provide scholarships to Black gay college students seeking a career in the legal industry.

Pandora
October 18 2006, 4:35PM

Keith, thank you for the update and info.

What we need is a GLBT Pioneer Foundation.

This foundation could be called upon to help in such things as burial costs.

Just a thought.

Peace

Pandora

UNITE IN THE FIGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

MPetrelis
October 18 2006, 5:08PM

Here is information on how much the top people at Lambda Legal earn, as reported in the group's most recent IRS 990 form, as posted on www.guidestar.com. This is the direct link: http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2005/237/395/2005-237395681-021f6dec-9.pdf . Registration required, and well worth the time it takes! -mpetrelis


Kevin Cathcart
Executive Director
$240,860

John Westfall
Development Director
$175,372

Michael Adams
Director of Education/Public Affairs
$150,048

Frances Goldstein
Deputy Director
$146,170

Jon Davidson
Legal Director
$145,988

Mark Gasparini
Chief Financial Officer
$134,226

Cadence
October 18 2006, 7:08PM

I think instead of blaming national organizations, we should join them, and become a more visible and active force within their ranks. We should also join organizations such as the NBJC. When ever something occurs that effects the Black SGL/LGBT community it is always the same names who stand up and take action. More of us need to become visible if we want to stop being taken for granted by mainstream society and the White gay establishment.

JJ
October 18 2006, 10:02PM

This is especially disappointing, considering that Lambda Legal continues to use the court case in which Tyron Garner was a plaintiff -- Lawrence v. Texas -- to raise money for itself. I received a fund-raising letter in the mail, dated only a little more than a week after Garner's death, and Lawrence v. Texas was mentioned in the first sentence, asking me to send Lambda Legal a donation because they helped win the sodomy case.

jared
October 18 2006, 10:06PM

They get paid that much money, I'll be the devils advocate, just what do they do to earn so much? As for "joining" them and their fight, I'll skip that one, since the gay "establishment" does not share any of my concerns as a black gay man, they have one issue they care about, marriage, as if its going to happen in this country. I'll keep contributing to organizations that have my interests in mind. And, its a shame that this man has to be buried by the county in this day and age. Black gays and black straights need to get their houses in financial order, for this man to be humiliated in death like this is just a shame.

DWIGHT POWELL / CLIK
October 18 2006, 10:37PM

Like you JJ, I also got an invitation from Lambda Legal for a GALA in Miami. That's Gala with a big G. The event hopes to generate up to $200,000 and is being sponsored by dozens of major businesses such as IBM, Deloitte, Merrill Lynch, Prudential, American Airlines, Time Warner, Wells Fargo, and many others. These guys raise and make a lot of money. The event is tomorrow (Thursday at 7PM here in Miami). It’s being hosted by the Miami chapter. I wish I had enough time to organize a protest. Any thought guys. HELP. Would like to bring some attention to the Byron issue

KARU RESTAURANT & Y
71 NW 14th St., Miami FL 33136

Vince
October 18 2006, 11:39PM

I went to Lambda and searched Tyrone Garner's name. Talk is cheap.

Lambda Legal Mourns the Passing of Tyrone Garner, Plaintiff in Lambda Legal’s Historic U. S. Supreme Court Victory, Lawrence and Garner v. Texas
‘Because Tyrone Garner and John Lawrence had the courage to challenge homophobic sodomy laws, the U.S. Supreme Court recognized that love, sexuality and family play the same role in gay people’s lives as they do for everyone else.’

Steve
October 19 2006, 1:07AM

I'm not sure I consider a cremation a disaster, but certainly having to wait so long seems something of a dishonor to Tyrone. And I don't care to sling mud or lay blame - there were PLENTY of people close to Tyrone who might have spoken up, or stepped forward. I mean, that's just common for the funeral of a friend, neighbor, whatever, isn't it? And there were certainly all those people involved as well as our national gay organizations. No, I'd much rather focus our energy on something that is established to honor his memory, and to respect his role in the liberation of gays everywhere.

Michael Whitley
October 19 2006, 4:55AM

Please not let us use his death for our own political agenda. Probably just like Keith Boykin, the other organizations probably found out late. It was his family fault. It was his family who knew they needed money and probably didn't reach out or didn't know how to reach out for help. As a community, I mean the black gay community we didn't know anything about him before the case, nor do we know anything about him after his death. Could it have been because the man he was caught with was white? If he was so damn important to us, why now?

I find it sad that he didn't have any friends, that he was broke, that all the men he slept couldn't come to his rescue and his life was only that to be exploited by opportunitist.

IMAGINE IF WE COULD'VE BEEN INFORMED THE DAY HE DIED, NOT UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE TO DO SOMETHING. It sounds like a conspiracy to me.

Harry Frazier
October 19 2006, 7:24AM

Sad situation...truly. BUT (I know people are going to jump all over me) where is his family in this? from reading about him he had like 7 brothers and sisters. Amoung a family this size none of them could come up with some money? We're they totally dependent upon the charity of others to pay for the final expenses of their family member. No aunts? uncles? cousin? parents? grandparents? etc could step up? I thank Keith for bringing this up BUT it is ultimately a family matter and I'm not hearing the family step up and I find it hard to believe that a family of this size can't come up with $430.

I know ya'll are gonna jump all over me but I know some of you are thinking the same thing

Donald
October 19 2006, 8:00AM

In all fairness, this really is a family issue. And to be honest, it's possible that Tyrone himself alienated himself (and by extension, his family) from the Black gay community that's up in arms about the perceived disrespect of his corpse. We muscled that statement and money out of Lamba Legal because they're an easy target and because we could - NOT because they're responsible for this man's burial costs. As we all know, burials and funerals are for loved ones who are still here. The primary responsibility for managing his death was his own while he was living; his family's is secondary and everyone else's is tertiary, at best.

None of us are going to be young forever or live forever. Perhaps this tragedy allows us to begin a conversation about preparing for our golden years and pre-arranging good deaths. Even as I type this, the prospect frightens me - it's a new conversation for me as well - but this can serve as a lesson to us all about the importance of planning for the future while we can.

Texas76132
October 19 2006, 8:30AM

I agree with Harry and Donald. Not to excuse those groups, but Tyrone Gardner was a black man. Where was his family and the black gay community? Houston has huge black gay community, not to mention a very large civil rights community. What about Houston's black millionairs. Where are they? It's a very large black city.Isn't time that we blacks stop looking to whitey to solve all of our problems? If our answer to all of our problems is to look to whites for everything, perhaps we should go back in slavery and be done with it. Responsibility comes with freedom. The black community shirked its responsibility. It's sad but true, Tyrone's memory will be a distant memory at the next Houston splash event.

titi
October 19 2006, 9:28AM

I TOTALLY AGREED THAT THIS IS ANOTHER LESSON. BUT MY GREATEST FEAR IS THAT WE SEEMS TO NEVER LEARN FROM EXPERIENCE.ALTHOUGH WE HAVE A BIBLIOTEK OF EXPERIENCE BEHIND US.THIS IS SAD, VERY VERY SAD.
IF THERE WERE ANY FORM OF EXPLOTATION IN HIS LIFE,I BELIEVE HE WAS SMART ENOUGH TO FIGTH BACK.HE PROBABLY CHOOSE TO LIVE HIS LIFE THIS WAY.SOME OF US WISH TO STAY AWAY FROM EVERYTHING BLACK REGARDLESS TO CONSEQUENCES.
SO LIVING IN THE OUTSKIRT OF BLGAY COMMUNAUTY WAS PROBABLY HIS WISH. SO LET BE VERY CAUTIOUS WITH BLAMES.

C. Baptiste-Williams
October 19 2006, 10:09AM

Cadence makes a powerfull point, we must join these organizations in masses in order to bring about change.

Watching the new movie Departed last night, Jack Nicholson made a very distinct comparison to Irish and Black people in politics... basically stating if we want something we have to take it and stop waiting for it to be handed to us.

Terrence
October 19 2006, 11:01AM

I live in Houston, and NOT ONCE did I hear or read anything in the local media that Tyron Garner's family was struggling with his funeral expenses - not once. Perhaps another local has had a different experience.

The issue was not noted in the large daily Houston Chronicle or any of the black newspapers, which I read regularly. And I doubt it was in any of the gay newspapers or it would have made bigger local headlines. It certainly was not on any of the local news stations from what I am able to determine.

I think many people have been caught by surprise by this, and it seems like poor communication has occurred on so many levels.

Aaron
October 19 2006, 11:46AM

He was one of ours! No matter what his family or immediate community did not do for him, once it was widely known it is all of our collective, established, and so called progressive minded responsibilities to UPLIFT, PROTECT and HONOR those of us who need us. We did not do it in his life so we must do it FOR his life because when TYRON GARNER FOUGHT we all benefitted.

We have MORE than enough MONEY in the Black gay community to be our brothers keeper. We have more than ENOUGH. Prada, Gucci, Timberland and all the others dont give us sh** and our major sponsors at the Black Prides are LIQUOR companies. WAKE UP folks! WE CAN TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN and when we DO everyone will PAY to be recognized by US. THIS ISSUE IS NOT ONLY ABOUT NOT BURYING ONE OF OUR OWN THIS IS ABOUT OUR POWER.TYRON GARNER FOUND HIS AND WE NEED TO MAKE IT GROW!!!

Harry Frazier
October 19 2006, 1:05PM

Aaron: he was one of our what? I nor my family have any expectation that when I die (and I will one day) for some group of black gay folks start sending money for my funeral expenses. that responsibility is MINE and MINE alone. So every one reading this need not worry...buy your Prada, Gucci and Tims....me and my family will be aiight. We are exploiting this issue and blowing it out of proportion. Tyron simply did not prepare for his final expenses and his family is either unwilling or unable to pick up on that but it is unrealistic and unfair to think "WE" (whatever that means) should pick up the slack. This surely happens all the time....This has more to do with poverty in America the any LGBT issue

CPAPhD
October 19 2006, 2:23PM

Utter shock and disbelief.....however, I am sending a donation. Many examples have been placed before us...now what are we going to do with them?

Aaron
October 19 2006, 4:31PM

Harry - We are a community if you are a Black Gay man, disjointed as it may be, you would be called fag a** nigga by the same person who calls anyone of us that name. OUR brother cleared a way for US whether he planned on it or not so if you have sex with men you owe him. Whether you honor that or not is your blessing or curse.

EVERY life has meaning and the same value in Gods eyes, I am just of the mind that we recognize the value of every persons life and when they are Black and Gay other Black Gay people take special note that they are one of OURS.
You make think you stand alone but God forbid you lose your job and get BEAT senseless because you are gay and/or Black. We would be having the same conversation and hopefully helping you pay your medical bills.

Dont hold yourself too high because gravity is much stronger than EGO! Just Keep Living.........

Harry Frazier
October 19 2006, 5:24PM

It's not ego at all....if something happened unfortunate to me and I was unable to "handle" things then that is my doing and I would not expect anyone else to pick my slack. My family would probably step in but NO one else is obligated to me. You words sound good like the lyrics of "We are the World" but in reality hold little weight. Ultimately we are all responsible for ourselves and if we focus on that we'll all be alright collectively and individually. Yes, I'm black...yes, i'm gay

Charles
October 19 2006, 9:47PM

I completely agree with you Harry, his family and/or "partner" have an obligation to take care of his remains. However, first and foremost the individual must take care of themselves.

I am tired of the "black community" both gay and straight...screaming their independence and stay out of my business and then screams poverty. The White gay organization did nothing...blah blah blah...so tired of it. Shame on you Keith saying how much is a black gay man worth. Why don't you take your money and do something, why didn't you pay the difference maybe you won't be able to go to Rio next year...just please stop polarizing this into an issue of race, gay etc...When it is an issue of poor planning on Tyron's and his family part nothing more or less. I personally will not send a dime.

Gay men of all shades need the following:

1- Funeral expenses paid for ahead of time
2- A will made up and signed by a legal party

Steve
October 19 2006, 11:17PM

All y'all are right. It was absolutely the responsibility of his friends and family to provide a funeral. The funeral is for the living, not the dead. If Tyrone was so alienated from them that they couldn't bring themselves to find a way to honor him, for even a pittance, that's really too bad.

It's water under the bridge now, in any case.

I do feel Tyrone was a pioneer of the black gay community. As such, I do believe it is very much a worthwhile cause to establish some kind of fund in his honor that can be used from time to time to remind people, INCLUDING US, of the oppression under which we still live.

Please, let's quit squabbling about the nature of and responsibility for his funeral. It may or may not be abhorrent how his body was handled. That's a matter for those close to him. It's our responsibility, NOW, to do something that will bestow that honor upon someone who deserves it.

Agreed?

venuslad
October 19 2006, 11:18PM

My condolences go out to the family of Tyron Garner.I'm sorry for your loss.As a fellow Texan,after reading of your need,I simply sent a check to the address above.As a gay,black man,I truly understand that some things are private matters.Please,accept my donation on the behalf of your loved one.Once again,I'm sorry for your loss.

Harry Frazier
October 20 2006, 9:54AM

Steve: AGREED! And thats all I was trying to say....you summed it up well...Thank you!

Aaron
October 20 2006, 12:10PM

Steve- I agree that too many of us dont get it! The things that divide our Black community - class, status, education, complexion - also divides the gay community but what is so sad is GAY BLACK MEN dont REALIZE family friends and the community that knows we are Gay sees us as GAY FIRST. How many families have you heard of that failed to inform the "not related" GAY friends to someones funeral? "If Tyron was so alienated from them that they couldn't bring themselves to find a way to honor him... thats really too bad" its too bad for Black Gay Men because that was the time to show ALL paying attention that He was worth it and WE are worth it.Your responses are great and frightening to me all at the same time because I am sure your thoughts reflect a great number of us but when do we realize we need to do something different?

Harry Frazier
October 20 2006, 3:24PM

Aaron: we are not monolithic and we will all have divisions amoung us...thats natural..."We" are not the "BORG". The ultimate truth is THERE WILL ALWAYS BE POOR PEOPLE...ALWAYS. It just a matter of WHO is poor. Now there clearly is a disproportionate number of black folks that are poor...and that needs to change. But eliminating poverty will not happen...EVER. This issue with Tyron was not a gay issue or black issue....it was an issue of poverty. Let the issue and the man rest

Audacity
October 20 2006, 3:43PM

I found this story sad & disturbing. Mr. Garner was part of a ground-breaking court case. Until Texas vs. Lawrence reached the Supreme Court, sex between people of the same sex was illegal in many parts of the US. That was used to deny rights to homosexuals because being homosexual made one a de facto criminal. The Supreme Court rightfully declared such antiquated laws about private sexual behavior to be illegal. For that limitation of governmental powers, we are all better off.

So for this man to be forgotten about, for his death to be barely a footnote and for no proper burial to be provided - especially if the relatively small amounts were to blame - is inexcusable. As much as incompetence may be to blame, I can't help but see this as being racial.

We, yes as SGL/LGBTI people, but especially as same-gender-loving people of color, should have given Tyron Garner the respect & dignity he deserved. Shame on us all.